100 Korean Food in 100 Days – Day 18 – Itaewon Gogit Jip

July 17, 2017

As day 18 of my 100 Korean foods in 100 Days Challenge reared its ugly head, I felt it was about darn time that I took y’all out for some BBQ. Korean BBQ is probably the land of the morning calm’s most famous dining experience, for good reason, it is insanely delicious. One of my favourite spots is the all you can eat Itaewon Gogit Jip, as you can get a huge variety of meats and sides for only 16,900 per person. So despite the weather being about 10,000 degrees, I ventured out with my two favourite boys and sat around a table filled with hot coals so I could make this video for you. I’m very kind-hearted like that.

When you go to eat BBQ there are dozens of different cuts of different meats that you can enjoy, but one of the most popular is Samgyupsal 삼겹살. The famed Korean pork belly was my 16th food to try. Typically it is cooked over the coals in the middle of the table, you then cut it up into smaller bite sized pieces with the provided scissors then eat it alongside your array of different side dishes of vegetables and sauces.

One way to enjoy it is by making a little vegetable wrap with the meat.To make a wrap, take one of the provided lettuce laves, I went for the Perilla leaf better known as Katnip 깻잎, which is a speciality Korean ingredient and my 17th Korean food. It has a slightly aniseed type flavour to it that really compliments the fatty pork. Top off with some Mung Bean Sprouts 숙주 (food 18), and a very generous blob of ssamjang, which is a mix of chili and soybean paste. It is a must when enjoying BBQ. You can use whatever side dishes you are given in your wrap, I also added onion and garlic but it is really up to you. You then roll it up and try and eat it all in one go, not super lady like but much less messy.

To complete our meal we ordered a bowl of egg soup, which goes by the name of Gyeran Jjim 계란찜 and was my 19th Korean food. This is almost always on the menu of any BBQ restaurant, sometimes it is included as one of the side dishes, and sometimes you can pay to order it separately. At Itaewon Gogit Jip you order it separately and it costs (3,000). The egg is steamed in a little seasoned stock, and as the water is boiled off into steam it cooks the egg leaving it very light and fluffy. It very unique, but absolutely delightful, you can’t leave Korea without trying it.

Itaewon Gogit Jip is located at 9 Itaewon-ro 19-gil Yongsan-gu, Seoul. To get there take a train to Itaewon station (line 6) and come out of exit 1. Walk straight, and take the first right after KFC. Walk to the end of the until you reach the road which runs parallel to the main road. Then turn left and walk to the very end of the alley way. You will see HBC Gogitjip just up ahead in the alleyway next to Grill 5 taco on the right hand side. For more information you can call them on 02-3785-0514. They are open everyday from 6pm onwards.